Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Henry E. Petersen
46 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Petersen, Bull, Buzhardt
President Nixon and Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst coordinated to place an urgent telephone call to Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The primary purpose of this interaction was to facilitate direct communication between the Attorney General and Petersen regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. Nixon provided Petersen's contact information to the White House operator to ensure the call could be completed immediately.
Richard G. Kleindienst and Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen coordinated a brief, urgent meeting to be held at Kleindienst's office. The conversation focused on logistics for Petersen’s arrival, including instructions for him to use a private elevator and a secure entrance. No substantive policy matters were discussed, as the call was exclusively intended to facilitate a private, immediate administrative consultation.
President Nixon arranges a meeting with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst to discuss specific instructions for Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. Kleindienst requests permission to bring Petersen along to the White House for this briefing. The conversation serves as a brief logistical coordination to facilitate direct communication between the President and the lead investigator regarding the Watergate matter.
Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen contacted the White House operator to place an outgoing call, with President Richard M. Nixon audible in the background. The interaction primarily served to facilitate a connection for the President, reflecting the ongoing administrative logistics during the height of the Watergate investigation. No substantive policy discussions or decisions are recorded in this brief bridge call.
President Nixon initiates a call to the White House operator to facilitate an urgent telephone connection with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. This interaction serves as a logistical step to reach a key figure involved in the Watergate investigation. The call concludes with the operator's acknowledgement of the request to track down Petersen at his residence.
President Nixon and Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen discussed the status of negotiations with John Dean, who refused to enter a plea unless H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman were also prosecuted. Petersen briefed the President on Dean’s attempt to communicate via a note and his potential desire to meet with Ehrlichman. To resolve the matter, Nixon authorized a direct meeting with Dean to demand the full truth and agreed to pressure G. Gordon Liddy to cooperate by signaling that the President expected complete disclosure.
President Nixon utilized the White House telephone system to coordinate a brief, private communication with an unidentified individual, potentially Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The discussion focused primarily on the strategic development of plans regarding ongoing administrative or legal matters. No further substantive details regarding the conversation's specific outcomes or directives are documented.
President Nixon initiates a call to connect with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen while John D. Ehrlichman is present. The primary purpose of the conversation is to facilitate direct communication with the Justice Department regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. No further substantive discussion occurs during this short bridge call beyond the request for the operator to connect to Petersen.
President Nixon and Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen discussed securing the cooperation of G. Gordon Liddy’s attorney, Peter Maroulis, regarding the Watergate investigation. Emphasizing a desire for full disclosure, Nixon directed Petersen to instruct Maroulis that his client must reveal everything he knows about the scandal. The President preferred that Petersen handle the communication personally to maintain professional distance, though he remained willing to meet with the attorney directly if the initial effort failed to produce the desired result.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an urgent call to Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. This interaction served as the administrative precursor to a direct consultation between the President and the Department of Justice official. The call highlights the President's ongoing communication with Petersen regarding the rapidly evolving Watergate investigation.
President Nixon initiates a call to the White House operator to be connected with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. This administrative contact serves as the precursor to a high-level discussion regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. The primary objective is to facilitate direct communication between the President and the official overseeing the Department of Justice's criminal inquiry.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to clarify the location and identity of Henry E. Petersen, the Assistant Attorney General. After briefly confusing him with Secretary of Commerce Peter G. Petersen, who was currently vacationing in Bermuda, the President confirmed that he did not wish to initiate a call at that time. The exchange served as a logistical verification to ensure the President reached the correct official regarding pending legal matters.
President Nixon and John Dean discuss the political and legal implications of the ongoing Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the potential impact of a public presidential statement on the case. They review a document drafted by Leonard Garment and deliberate on whether a public declaration might inadvertently impair the government's prosecution, particularly regarding Jeb Stuart Magruder's expected testimony. The two agree to meet later in the afternoon to further evaluate the legal risks and procedural questions surrounding the court's handling of the case.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman coordinated the talking points for Nixon’s upcoming meeting with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen regarding the Watergate investigation. They established a firm policy against granting immunity to top White House officials, such as John Dean and Charles Colson, while remaining open to immunity for lower-level staffers like Gordon Strachan. Furthermore, they clarified personnel policies regarding suspensions upon indictment and resignations upon conviction, while also planning to confront Petersen about the political damage caused by ongoing leaks from the grand jury.
President Nixon initiates a call to the White House operator to be connected with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The interaction serves as a brief logistical request to establish direct communication with Petersen amid ongoing investigations. No further substantive discussion occurs during this short exchange beyond the request for the connection.
President Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen to discuss the ongoing Watergate investigation and the challenge of managing leaks from the U.S. Attorney's office. The conversation focused on the credibility of key figures like John Dean, Jeb Stuart Magruder, and Gordon C. Strachan, as well as the legal difficulties of pursuing conspiracy charges against H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon emphasized that any potential immunity deals or further investigative steps must be grounded in corroborated testimony rather than conflicting accounts, while reinforcing his assertion that the White House had cooperated fully with the investigation.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler met to coordinate the White House's public response to mounting Watergate pressures, specifically focusing on John W. Dean III's shifting cooperation and potential implications for H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. They reviewed Dean’s past reports, his role in the investigation, and the legal strategy regarding his potential immunity and testimony to the grand jury. The discussion also addressed the administration's public posture toward the press, including Ziegler’s forthcoming briefing on Dean and the President's recent communications with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the administration's public response regarding the President’s ongoing meetings with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen. They specifically discuss how to address media inquiries concerning Watergate investigations and clarify that the President does not receive reports from the grand jury. Nixon instructs Ziegler to emphasize that while he receives updates on general investigative progress from Petersen, he is not privy to the contents or internal proceedings of the grand jury.
President Nixon instructs Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to publicly emphasize that he has explicitly directed Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen to withhold all grand jury proceedings from him. Nixon expresses concern that leaks, particularly those involving columnist Jack Anderson, could taint the investigation and wants to distance himself from the inner workings of the grand jury. The President clarifies that while he continues to receive general investigatory reports, he is consciously avoiding specific grand jury information to maintain procedural integrity.
President Nixon met with attorneys John J. Wilson and Frank H. Strickler to discuss the evolving Watergate scandal and its potential legal impact on H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman. The participants reviewed the status of federal investigations, the handling of secret funds, and the potential for upcoming indictments against White House staff. They also deliberated on the political implications of keeping or removing Haldeman and Ehrlichman from their positions, comparing the situation to historical precedents regarding presidential staff resignations.
President Nixon initiates a call to be connected with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The brief exchange serves as a procedural request to facilitate a direct line of communication between the President and Petersen. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this initial operator interaction.
President Nixon initiates a call to the White House operator to be connected with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. This interaction serves as the preliminary step for the President to facilitate a direct conversation with the official managing the Watergate investigation. The call concludes immediately after the request for the connection is made.
A White House operator coordinates with President Nixon to facilitate an urgent communication with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The President seeks to confirm Petersen’s current availability, as he is expected to initiate a call to the White House within minutes. This brief exchange serves to prepare the President for a critical, time-sensitive discussion regarding ongoing legal or investigative matters.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to relay a message to Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen regarding a scheduled call. He requested that the operator inform Petersen of a temporary delay, noting that he would initiate the follow-up conversation in approximately 30 minutes. This communication served as a brief administrative coordination to manage his schedule while dealing with the Justice Department.
President Nixon and Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen arranged an evening meeting at the White House to discuss ongoing Watergate investigations. Nixon expressed significant frustration regarding grand jury leaks, pressuring Petersen to administer lie detector tests to the prosecution team to identify the source. The two also discussed the resignation of Jeb Stuart Magruder and the management of public messaging regarding various White House staff members implicated in the scandal.
President Nixon and Lawrence M. Higby met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and administrative logistics. Their discussion centered on planning a meeting with Henry E. Petersen and managing the timing of H.R. Haldeman’s appointments. This brief session functioned primarily as a scheduling review to streamline the President's immediate agenda.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media strategy regarding the Watergate scandal, focusing on the importance of conveying that the President is actively seeking the truth and maintaining governmental operations. Ziegler reviews his efforts to counter press rumors about the timing of the President's knowledge of the scandal and explains his strategy to ease tensions with the press corps. Nixon directs that daily staff meetings be resumed to project stability and instructs Ziegler to emphasize that the administration is conducting its own investigation without a cover-up.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate an urgent communication with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The brief exchange served as a logistical request to establish a telephone connection between the President and Petersen. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to place an urgent call to Henry E. Petersen. This conversation serves as a brief administrative request to facilitate direct communication between the President and the Assistant Attorney General. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange beyond the successful request for the connection.
President Nixon consulted with Attorney General Richard Kleindienst and Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen regarding the potential fallout from reports that acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray destroyed sensitive documents provided to him by John Dean. The group discussed how Gray should handle media inquiries and his upcoming grand jury testimony, ultimately agreeing that Gray should not resign in response to press reports but should instead wait to address the matter before the grand jury. Nixon expressed strong opposition to granting immunity to Dean, whom he blamed for the ongoing leaks and misinformation regarding the administration's involvement in the Watergate cover-up.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephone request to be connected with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The call serves as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication with Petersen, who was the lead official overseeing the burgeoning Watergate investigation at the Department of Justice. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief administrative exchange.
President Richard Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen to discuss the ongoing investigation into the Watergate scandal and the status of potential evidence. The conversation centers on the President's frustration regarding uncorroborated information and his desire to control the investigative process to avoid political damage. Nixon emphasizes the need to manage the flow of information as the situation escalates, ultimately expressing concern over the implications of incriminating details surfacing.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and unidentified individuals to coordinate an urgent meeting with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The participants focused on logistics for facilitating this discussion, with the President instructing his staff to secure Petersen’s presence at the White House immediately. The conversation highlights the administration's high-priority efforts to maintain direct communication with the Justice Department official overseeing the unfolding Watergate investigation.
President Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen to address alarming reports from journalists Seymour Hersh and Bob Woodward that John Dean had implicated the President to Watergate prosecutors. Nixon expressed deep concern over these rumors and pressed Petersen to confirm whether the prosecutors had received such statements, specifically regarding the March 21, 1973, conversation concerning E. Howard Hunt’s demands. Petersen agreed to immediately contact the lead prosecutors to verify the information and reiterated his stance that his office lacked a mandate to investigate the presidency, asserting that such authority resided only with the House of Representatives.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding a telephone call made by Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen from the Cabinet Room. The brief exchange focused on technical or procedural aspects of the communication, specifically referencing the use of a "catapult" system. No further policy decisions or substantive outcomes were documented during this short meeting.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office while managing his active schedule. The dialogue centered on coordinating logistics regarding a telephone call involving Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. No substantive policy discussions were recorded, as the exchange focused primarily on the status of ongoing communications.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone connection with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. This interaction was strictly logistical, serving as an administrative step to initiate a high-level discussion regarding the ongoing legal and political developments of the era. No policy decisions were discussed during this brief exchange, which functioned solely to bridge the communication link.
President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator to coordinate logistics and communication with his staff. He requested updates on Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler’s travel status and directed the operator to initiate a telephone call with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. These directives reflect the President's efforts to manage administrative communications while stationed at Camp David.
President Nixon and Attorney General-designate Elliot Richardson discuss the impending appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate the Watergate scandal. They agree that while Richardson should appoint an independent figure to oversee the investigation, he must retain ultimate authority and responsibility as Attorney General rather than fully abdicating oversight. Richardson plans to consult with Senate Judiciary Committee members to ensure his proposed management structure, which includes replacing Henry E. Petersen, maintains his command while satisfying congressional demands for integrity.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed the scheduling and parameters of an upcoming meeting with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The President emphasized his desire to hear a personal message from Petersen, while noting that the conversation should remain distinct from ongoing grand jury matters. This exchange served to facilitate the logistics and communication protocols for the President's engagement with the Justice Department official.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate a forthcoming discussion with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. The two discussed logistical delays caused by inclement weather and the necessity of ensuring privacy for the meeting. The conversation focused on managing the interaction to avoid premature or public association with grand jury proceedings.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate his immediate schedule and manage upcoming arrivals. The discussion focused on logistical preparations involving Henry E. Petersen, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief engagement concluded with the departure of the guest as the President prepared for further staff briefings.
J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. and Doug Parker engaged in a brief check-in regarding the status of communication with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The primary purpose of the call was to ascertain whether Parker had received any updates or outreach from Petersen. No substantive developments occurred, as Parker confirmed he had not yet heard from him and agreed to notify Buzhardt upon receiving any further information.
Doug Parker and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. coordinated the delivery of sensitive documents belonging to John W. Dean, III to Assistant Attorney General Earl J. Silbert. The discussion addressed the reasons for a delay in the transfer and confirmed plans to inspect and copy the materials once they reached Silbert’s office. To resolve the lingering issues causing the holdup, Buzhardt committed to placing an immediate follow-up call to Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen.
President Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt discussed legal strategy regarding the upcoming Watergate hearings, specifically focusing on coordinating with Fred D. Thompson for the cross-examination of John Dean. Buzhardt reported on his recent meetings with Thompson and Henry Petersen, highlighting the potential for shifting the committee's focus toward Democratic campaign financing and the increasingly political nature of the hearings. The participants emphasized the need to prepare a detailed chronology of the President's interactions with Dean to challenge his anticipated testimony and mitigate potential legal damage.
President Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. discussed strategies for conducting a rigorous cross-examination of John Dean in anticipation of his upcoming testimony before the Ervin Committee. The President emphasized highlighting Dean’s failure to report key information to the Department of Justice, despite his regular access to officials like L. Patrick Gray and Henry Petersen. They further reviewed chronological evidence to prove that Dean’s involvement in fund-raising and obstruction predated his meetings with the President, with the goal of undermining Dean's credibility and distancing the White House from his illicit activities.